European Union (EU) ambassadors in Dhaka did not join the Victory Day programme at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Monday morning, but they attended the reception hosted by President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban in the afternoon. However, skipping of programme at the mausoleum by the EU ambassadors has caused annoyance among the government hierarchies, said sources concerned.
“We had to have an urgent coordination meeting today (Monday), EU Head of the Delegation in Bangladesh Ambassador William Hanna told The Independent through a short text message from his mobile at 3:40pm when asked about the reason behind skipping the programme at Savar.
The coordination meeting was held from 11:00am till 12:30pm at the residence of Ambassador Hanna, confirmed a source.
On Sunday afternoon, the EU Delegation in Dhaka sent a note varbale to the Foreign Ministry informing that the EU ambassadors would not be able to attend the programme as they had a coordination meeting on the day.
According to government sources, having received the message senior officials concerned spoke to top diplomats of some EU countries in an effort to convince them to attend the programme. They were told that since the Victory Day programme was a state affair they could reconsider attending the event. Even after such request on behalf of the government, EU envoys did not change their decision.
Having failed to convince them to attend the programme, the Foreign Ministry sent a message to the EU stating that the government was not happy at the position of the EU.
Meanwhile, the EU action has surprised as well as annoyed the government high ups, who are considering the gesture as a gross violation of diplomatic etiquette, said the sources concerned.
“It is an unparalleled incident in the history of Bangladesh,” said a diplomatic source. It is not obligatory to attend such state programme, but a convention that is being followed over the years, he said.
-With The Independent input
